An unknown woman sits at a table, with a desk and computer in the background. In front of her is a computer print-out, however she turns to camera with 3 LBA cassette titles fanned in her hand. These are: Safe Houses by Rose Zwi, narrated by Stephanie Daniel, A Long Way to Tipperary by Sue Gough, narrated by Humphrey Bower, and Titans! by Michael Stephen and narrated by Humphrey Bower.1 colour photograph of woman with talking bookstalking books, louis braille audio

An elderly man listening to a Clarke & Smith talking book machine, whilst sitting on a lounge chair. In the background is a wooden sideboard. The man is smiling and has raised his hand to his mouth as he becomes enveloped in the story. Digital image of man sitting in a chair listening to talking booksroyal victorian institute for the blind, talking book machines

Female holds a cassette tape whilst looking at a sheet of paper in her other hand. The tape has been pulled from a cardboard box which has a reference number (eg: C90), a title and the sequential number (Side 5) listed on the front side of the box. Multiple boxes are nestled on wooden shelves, each with a black band that is attached below the box to assist in pulling them on and off the shelves. Books on cassettes were physically bulky and were stored separately for easy retrieval and return when borrowers were done. When a tape was dispatched, the requisite number of cassettes were removed and placed into mailing pouches for dispatch. Upon return, the cassettes were placed in individual boxes, that allowed staff to retrieve selected parts of a book if needed or incomplete books were returned. Underneath the image is written "Up to date talking book cassette library". Digital image of woman holding a cassette taperoyal blind society of new south wales, talking books

A woman sits in a lounge chair and rests a binder folder with paper on her lap. She holds a pen and appears to be writing as she listens. Her headphones are connected to a portable reel player, which sits on a table beside her, and on top of this are reel boxes with braille labels.Digital image of woman listening to an audio bookroyal victorian institute for the blind, talking books

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: Matcham Skipper sculpture awarded to Book of the Year, the work undertaken by Lions Clubs in raising funds for the library, the 150th anniversary of Louis Braille, working closer with public libraries, distribution of the Fraser Twins Sound Magazine and the generous donation by Mr and Mrs Frank Currie who gave $104 as part of their 50th Wedding Anniversary.1 volume with text and illustrationsbraille and talking book library, matcham skipper, eric rolls, book of the year, mary wynne, elizabeth fraser, jean fraser, joe krygger, dudley sherlock, valma whitehead, betty williams, frank currie, hector bathurst, annual report

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: acknowledgement of the work on Thomas Luxton as foundation president, having a stand at the Royal Melbourne Show, acknowledgement of Joan Cunnington for working 50 years as a transcribing and producing the most volumes (789) of any transcriber, display of a thermoform map designed by 2nd year Architecture students of the Melbourne University campus, Sir Paul Hasluck winning the Braille Book of the Year award, first edition of Library Talk audio magazine, congratulations from the Federation of Blind Citizens on providing 2 track cassettes, retirement of Alice McClelland and Geoffrey Wilson, and a delegate attending the Australian and New Zealand Association of Teachers of the Visually Handicapped conference,1 volume of illustrations and textbraille and talking book library, thomas luxton, joan harris, mary wynne, kerryn dobson, joyce cunnington, elizabeth fraser, hector bathurst, deanna debona, tony o'shea, david wluka, joan simmonds, paul hasluck, gough whitlam, book of the year, annual report

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: the expansion of the library to new readers gained from Hear A Book and the range of books available on commercially produced cassettes, the decreased loans for Large print as other public libraries offer these for loan, the continued support for selecting the Braille Book of the Year by the committee of Barrett Reid, Dr Stephen Murray Smith and Joyce Nicholson, appointment of Maxene Hewitt, Ray Hannah and Jan Smark, and retirement of Joan Simmonds.1 volume of print and illustrationsbraille and talking book library, faith bandler, book of the year, tilly aston, george fairbairn, colin sommerville, mary cooper, hector bathurst, janene morrison, joan harris, michele worsley, tony lewis, terry lane, carl bleazby, joan simmonds, annual report

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: a picture of the 'The Greatest Thing in the World' - the oldest Braille book in the library, acknowledgement of the work of May Harrison, Joyce Cunnington, Joan Armytage, involvement in the Library Promotion Committee of Victoria to increase visibility, and receipt of Hear A Book's from Tasmania.1 volume with text and illustrationsbraille and talking book library, may harrison, joyce cunnington, geoff wilson, hector bathurst, al grassby, book of the year, sharon duncan, david prescott, annual report, joan armytage, mary rose liverani

A welcome visit from Australia Post as Merle Hardham (a Woodburn Lodge resident), receives an audio book from the Braille and Talking Book Library.2 coloured photographs of woman using Australia Post for talking booksbraille and talking book library, australia post, merle hardham, woodburn lodge, talking books

Articles in the annual report include: 170 workers (130 blind, 20 home workers, 20 sighted) were employed during the year, the passing of Henry Hedger who was superintendent for many years, a personal reflection by Captain Gilbert Nobbs (who was blinded in WW1 and helped by the Institution) and his discussion on talking books, a trial of producing rubber mats in the workshop, 21 students receiving piano or singing lessons, with a male Choir of 21 participants, 320 library readers, the death of A.S.H. Parker who taught Braille with Ethel Campbell and accomplished transcriber, the roster of visiting readers for workers and other attendees, monthly musicales provided by blind and sighted musicians, the Annual Picnic and Sports Day, the 2 Blind Cricket matches against the Victorian team played at Belmore Oval (1-1), and the first White Ball held at the Trocadero with Mrs Eric Sheller as the inaugural President.1 printed booklet with illustrations in bound sydney industrial blind institution, annual report, gilbert nobbs, herbert thompson, jean currie, talking books, ethel campbell, roy kippax, ann sarah hale parker, black and white committee, cricket

The Talking Book Library of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind is celebrating its 50th anniversary during 1984. This service began in 1934 with 78 rpm records. These were later superceded by 33rpm records which remained in use until 1960. The first cassettes were imported from England and weighed 7 lb. along with the player which weighed 28 lb. These 18 track cassettes usually contained one whole book. In the early 1970's a change was made to smaller cassettes containing 12 hours of recorded material on 6 tracks. The latest system currently being introduced is the Library of Congress 4 Track System utilising cassettes which play for 6 hours and machinery which is adaptable to the conventional 2 track system cassette. The Talking Book Library today provides services to 2500 readers as opposed to only 500 in 1964. The service is free of charge to anyone who is visually handicapped and includes talking books, talking book machines, mail service, servicing of machines at regular intervals and any modifications that may be required. Over 1600 cassettes are handled daily. The library currently holds over 3500 individual titles. Catalogues are available in print, audio and braille format. Once selection is made, borrowers may receive at least 3 books at any one time. Other services include current magazines, foreign language books, newspapers and magazines and regional country newspapers. Many books are recorded at the R.V.I.B. by our volunteer readers while others are bought from similar agencies in Australia and overseas. The department of the R.V.I.B. relies almost entirely on voluntary donations from the public. Other services provided by the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind Community Resources Section, Aids & Equipment Shop, Tertiary Resource Service, Industrial Department, Retired Personnel Allowance, Children's Services, Social Services, Housing Loans, Vocational Development1 digital image of typewritten pageroyal victorian institute for the blind, talking books

Articles in the annual report include: a brief history of the organisation on it's 80th anniversary, resignation of Herbert Thompson who had provided over 50 years of voluntary service in the library, Braille teacher and Council member with a plaque commemorating him in the Library, the addition of Reverend Noel McCaw on the Council as Mr Thompson's replacement and A.F. Albert's appointment as Vice President, the unexpected demolition of 'Heathfield; in Woollahra due to it's condition and a rethinking of strategy given the demand for a kindergarten in the western suburbs, intention to rebuild the lower hall in William St to accommodate studios, offices, repair and storage facilities to satisfy the growing demand for tapes, outline of the Blind Book Society and how it became an auxiliary to the Society so that the assets and goodwill of the BBS were transferred to the RBS, support for this action by Frank Clune and other authors, transcription work done by the Braille Writers Association of NSW includes Leaving Certificate exams, knitting patterns, recipes and musical compositions, references to the change in talking book machines and teachers checking transcribers work to ensure mild censorship does not occur, two examples of how the support can change the life of a blind person, the assembling of a giant flower basket (10 x 15 feet) for the Town Hall Float in the Waratah Festival which was filled with 25,000 sweet peas and a bow of 6 foot wide satin - sadly the truck carrying this would not start and the float was not seen, dropping of sales due to plastic goods and imported products, 17 First Prizes and 12 Second Prizes in various handicrafts at the Royal Easter Show, the work of Margaret Green in providing services to blind children across the state, a visit by world-famous blind pianist George Shearing, pictures of the opening of the "Light House" home for Aged Blind Women and the Alexis Albert Hostel for Aged Blind Men, renovations have occurred at the Helen Keller Hostel and drama and singing classes are held as well as the local choir Waimea Singers directed by Nellie Sweeney, cricketer Ken Curtis took a hat trick - the first in Australian blind cricket history - in the third match between NSW and Victoria at Kooyong in December 1960, three musicians (Julian Lee, Percy Roberts and George Herrmann) were in contact with pianist Percy Shearing before his television appearance, drama classes provided by Irene Alexander have been well attended with some students giving dramatic presentations on radio stations, monthly musical concerts continue to be held in the Society's hall, the continued success of the Black and White Ball, the huge success of the 2UW Blind Appeal providing much needed funds, the addition of the Silver Lighthouse to the group of Auxiliaries, the passing of E K Gordon who was a Foundation Member of the Committee as well as roles with the Newcastle branch and Nursery for Blind Babies, the ACT Liaison Group obtained free passes for bus services within the Territory, the 'Glow Worm' sessions ended in its 21st year on 2GB with Goodie Reeve now reading news excerpts and Betty Hatherley's session on 2UW have been replaced by recorded announcements.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, annual report, justice maxwell, paul cullen, h.f. benning, herbert thompson, c d darvall, ken bunn, e t herford, roy kippax, k. g hunter-kerr, phyllis bourke, w.a. davis, alexis albert, noel mccaw, buildings, talking books, blind book library, kenneth bruce, frank clune, dame mary gilmore, roy young, braille writers association of new south wales, transcription, t brockhoff, zita ainsworth, l farrell, a faulks, percy cooper, m duncan, dorothy juleff, margaret green, victor maxwell kindergarten, light house home, alexis albert hostel, helen keller hostel, waimea singers, nellie sweeney, ken curtis, cricket, julian lee, percy roberts, george herrmann, irene alexander, maurice chevalier, nola dekyvere, betty hatherley, l c haynes, fundraising, l atkins, l a maurer, j lamond, j wishart, jill hamer, w. cannington, e k gordon, j blair, b macleay, lions club of mayfield, lions club of sydney, lions club of burwood, apex, lions club of bondi, n g wilson, j v brickwood, goodie reeve, 2uw, 2gb

Vision Australia Foundation library user Lorna Hayter listening to a talking book as she scrubs potatoes in her kitchen.1 colour photograph of woman in kitchenThe Age @19/10/94vision australia foundation, talking books, lorna hayter

In 1994, student Milos Jamieson was pictured in the library, listening to audiobooks with Braille volumes behind him. From the description on the back of the images, these images were to represent the youthful approach of the library in responding to client needs.3 photographs, 1 proof sheet and 11 colour transparenciesThe heir to a marvellous array of technology, here or in prospect, Milos Jamieson symbolises the borrowing generation of the 21st century. Milos Jamieson symbolises the 21st century generation who will borrow from the Braille and Talking Book Library. The heir to a marvellous array of technology, here or promised, Milos Jamieson symbolises the borrowing generations of the 21st century.braille and talking book library, milos jamieson, talking books

Library user Claire Proctor listens to cassettes at a table inside a plant nursery.2 colour photographs and 7 strips of negatives of Claire Proctortalking books, claire proctor, braille & talking book library

When author C.H. Nipper created historical overview of the first 60 years of the RVIB, various topics were covered by an unordered series of pages on individual topics. These are: Admittance of Aboriginal people (1/2 page) Blinded soldiers (5 pages) Blindness - causes and prevention (4 pages) Buildings and Land (Snippets) - gas - grant of crown land - heating - insurance - water Change of name (1 page) Deaf-Blind and the Multiple Handicapped (3 pages) Education (9 pages, 1 missing) Employment: - Placement of blind people in employment (1 page) - Insurance brokerage as a profession of the blind by Fred C Tolstrup (3 pages) Fundraising (Snippets) - Coles Book Arcade - Sporting matches Kiosks for the Blind (1/2 page) Music (5 pages) Nursing (2 pages) Organ (Snippets) Ormond Hall (3 pages) Pensions (1/2 page) Rehabilitation Training centre (3 pages) Talking Book Library (1 1/2 pages)2 page foreward and 17 page historyroyal victorian institute for the blind, c.h. nipper, blind soldiers, deaf-blind, ormond hall, fundraising, rvib nursery, nellie melba, alice mcclelland, charles halle, blinded soldiers bowling club, talking books, employment, aboriginal and torrens strait islander people, pensions, fred c tolstrup, blindness, rehabilitation, education, buildings

Male handles Clarke & Smith talking book cartridges, placing one cartridge on a bookcase filled with numbered cartridges, whilst holding another two in his other hand. To the side of him is a cane basket that contains black mailing cases with silver reinforced corners and strapping. These cases were used to send the cartridges out to talking book clients. Behind the man is another bookshelf, with the two bottom shelves containing mailing cases, the next two Clarke & Smith cartridges and possibly Clarke & Smith tapetes and tapete mailing pouches on the top shelf. A metal fan hits on top of the bookcase.Digital image of man with audio book cartridgestalking books, library, royal victorian institute for the blind

Talking Book Machines were used by clients for audio books sent out by libraries for the blind and visually impaired. In this undated photograph, the machine appears to be either a cassette or cartridge player, and the top and cardigan worn by the lady, indicates that this image may have be taken in the 1980-1990s. Talking Book Machines had more features than a regular cassette player, combined with the various speeds used and tone indexing, allowed readers to skip through the book or slow it down.audio equipment, talking books, royal victorian institute for the blind

A young man sits in front of bookshelves of labelled black folders and listens to headphones as he types.Digital image of a male listening and typing on a typewriterroyal victorian institute for the blind, talking books

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 2000 the winner of the Unabridged Fiction Category was "An Accommodating Spouse" by Louis Braille Audio.1 x A3 sheet with illustration and writingImage of a fish illustration with the words 'Spits-beck, on le. Bec pointu du Mont rouge eft bon & commun. 84" between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 1995 the winner of the Unabridged Non-Fiction Category was "Goodbye Girlie" by Louis Braille Books.1 x A3 corflute with black writing and illustration of parrotsImage of 3 Painted Parrots by William T Cooper between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 2000 the Overall Winner was "My Girragundji" and "The Binna Binna Man" by Louis Braille Audio.1 x A3 sheet with black and red writing and illustration of crabImage of a crab illustration with the words '168 Krabbe d'Arbre deffinee a Amboine. Ily a plus de ces cacres terrestres que de Soures: et elles font de figures fort de figures fort differentes; maiselles ne vallent rien" between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 1993 the winner of the Adult Literature Category was "The English Patient" by Louis Braille Books.1 x A3 sheet with brown and black writing and illustration of peacockImage of 'The White Peacock' by Lionel Lindsay between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 2000 the winner of the Author/Narrator Category was "My Girragundji" and "The Binna Binna Man" by Louis Braille Audio.1 x A3 sheet with black and red writing and illustration of fishImage of a fish illustration with the words 'Mouffour Annak" between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 1996 the winner of the Unabridged Non-Fiction Category was "Home Before Dark" by Louis Braille Books.1 x A3 sheet with black writing and illustration of wattleIllustration of wattle by an unknown artist between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 1999 the winner of the Unabridged Non-Fiction Category was "Caddie" by Louis Braille Books.1 x A3 sheet with black writing and illustration of butterfliesIllustration of Papita Peranthus by an unknown artist between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 1998 the winner of the Unabridged Non-Fiction Category was "Dreamtime Alice" by Louis Braille Books.1 x A3 sheet with black writing and colour illustrationIllustration of seaside town by an unknown artist between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 1992 the winner of the Adult Literature Category was "Patrick White: A Life" by Louis Braille Books.1 x A3 sheet with black writing and illustration of flowers 'Fuchsias' 1939 by Lionel Lindsay between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 1995 the winner of the Unabridged Fiction Category was "Dark Places" by Louis Braille Books.1 x A3 corflute with black writing and illustration of three birdsImage of two lorrikeets and one Lory by William T Cooper between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 1994 the winner of the Unabridged Fiction Category was "White Eye" by Louis Braille Books.1 x A3 corflute with black writing and photograph of two people with a cart at the top of a city road'Lighting up' by Harold Cazneaux between header and recipient louis braille audio, talking books, awards